414 Bird -Lore 



of the parent birds. There were 200 Herring Gulls. I did not find any evidence 

 of the Gulls nesting. The Spotted Sandpipers and Semipalmated Plovers 

 had young on all parts of the island. 



The state deeded this island to the United States Government. I found 

 that hunters used the island to shoot from during the Duck season. I took 

 up the question with Dr. T. S. Palmer of having this island set aside as a 

 national bird preserve. It is the only point the Common Terns have for nesting 

 in Lake St. Clair, as the islands without marsh have all been taken for resi- 

 dences. August 24 we estimated the number of birds at 3,000. The number 

 of Gulls had more than doubled, and the Common Tern had increased to 

 2,000. We also found Solitary, Least and Semipalmated Sandpipers. 



We wish to have a large sign erected on the island and to exclude all hunters 

 from using it. The officials of the United States Engineers' office at Detroit 

 say that the lighthouse keeper at the Canal could look after that matter 

 if so instructed. 



I spoke at a meeting of the conservation forces of the state at Lansing, 

 in the spring, on birds. While there I took up the question of getting the 

 Forestry Commission to provide sanctuaries for birds in the new forests 

 being set out near Oscoda and Au Sable, as well as providing for small lakes 

 for use of water- and shore-birds. 



J. H. McGillivray, Field Supervisor of the Michigan Forest Scouts, joined 

 forces with us. He has more than two thousand boys and youths enrolled. 

 Thomas B. Wyman, President of the Northern Forest Protection Association, 

 became a member of the Michigan Audubon Society, and we have formed 

 an alliance to aid each other in the forestry and bird work. 



Hon. Wm. B. Mershon, of Saginaw, author of the 'Passenger Pigeon,' 

 agreed to give fifty medals to the schools of the state for prizes for the best 

 work done for, and the best articles written on, bird-study and -protection. 

 I have written to fifty newspapers in the state calling attention to the matter. 

 Mr. Ben. O. Bush, of Kalamazoo, and Mr. J. H. McGillivray are acting 

 with me on the prize committee. During the year, I have had charge of nine 

 contests for prizes by essays on birds. Mr. Henry Ford furnished the prizes, 

 and with money given by him we have secured a traveling library. 



On his farm, Mr. Ford keeps a man constantly employed making bird- 

 boxes and winter shelters. This man carries food daily during the winter, 

 and places it in feeding-boxes, covering about a mile and a half of territory. 

 I have taken fifty-eight persons and clubs over the farm during the past year. 

 Some of the visitors came from the Pacific Coast and many from the Atlantic 

 and the South. New experiments are constantly being tried. Tepid water 

 is provided during the coldest weather by an electric heater, and the birds 

 use the water not only for drinking but occasionally for bathing. Thirty-two 

 bird outings were given during the year, mainly for teachers' and boys' clubs. 



The demand for literature, lectures, etc., is too great for our financial 



